French Manicures

BFL_NAILS01
OOH
LA LA!
H AV I N G A M O M E N T: T WO -T O N E D N A I L S G O N E M O D E R N
2
BY MEIRAV DEVASH
PHOTOGRAPHS BY
JAMES WOJCIK
FRENCH 101
nail bed. The very
manicure prized for
simulating natural nails
had lost its allure...for
being too artificial. Is it
really so shocking that
top manicurists, beauty
editors, and—mais
oui!—the French
themselves disowned it?
Well, nail pros and
fashion designers are
bringing the style back,
and this time around,
it’s a beaut! Albeit with
a few conditions we can
count on one hand.
Think unexpected color
combos, a touch of
fine-art flair, and—most
important—no more
squares! As manicurist
Jin Soon says: “You
don’t have to do much
to modernize it.” What
we j’adore even more?
None of these five
looks takes longer than
30 minutes to pull off.
Because we have to draw
the line somewhere too.
P a r l e z -vo u s co o l ? F i ve p o i n t s a n d
yo u ’ re s p e a k i n g o u r l a n g u a g e .
Keep nails short and—it bears repeating—round. Trim
until you see no more than a sliver of the tip when your
palms are facing up, then round out the edges. Manicurist
Deborah Lippmann says that a square tip creates “a
scoop underneath that collects debris.” Ick.
Lay the foundation. Begin with a clear base, then add
two coats of color. Give each layer two minutes to dry.
Tip carefully. “A skinny stripe—one-eighth of an inch or
less—that follows the curve of the tip is what makes a
traditional French mani modern,” says Soon. With
dark colors or abstract designs, a thicker tip is fine—as
long as the base of the tip is gently rounded.
Never waver. For a steady line, use Lippmann’s trick:
Set your elbow, arm, and the side of your nondominant
hand on a table. With your other hand, place the
polish brush at the top corner of the nail. Instead of
moving the brush, rotate the finger.
Finish strong. Seal your manicure with a clear
topcoat. To prevent chipping, layer
on topcoat every two or three days,
including a horizontal stripe across the tips.
MANICURE: JIN SOON CHOI FOR JINSOON/JED ROOT,
PROP ST YLING: SUMMER MOORE
THAT PROVERBIAL THIN
line between love and
hate? You can find it on
the French manicure.
Once revered for its
refined simplicity
(flesh-colored; subtle
white tip), the look has
morphed over the
years—becoming
absurdly square, atop
long acrylic talons, its
blinding white line
swallowing up half the
We u s e d to b e
a n t i - F re n c h …
m a n i c u re , t h a t i s .
S o c h e e sy, s o
u n f l a t te r i n g . B u t
t h e l a te s t t a ke s
h ave u s d o i n g a
d o u b l e t a ke . I n
f a c t , t h ey ’ re —
f i n a l l y— t rè s c h i c .
1 /S C R I B B L E D M E TA L L I C
1
If you’re going for delicate and refined, Soon likes
neutral-on-neutral color (such as beige nails with
gold tips). For something a little sexier, try ripe
guava with shimmering rose gold jotted along the
tops (paint it on, then use a clean eyeliner brush
to swiggle the color down). It’s the manicure
version of a Miami vacation—rich and rebellious.
Base: OPI Nail Lacquer in Aloha From OPI,
$9.50, ulta.com
Tips: Marc Jacobs Hi-Shine Nail Lacquer
Enamored in Le Charme, $18, sephora.com
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2 /CO LO R - B LO C K E D
The fashion trend that just
won’t quit—graphically
juxtaposing different hues—is
great on nails, too. A surprising
shade palette (including an extra color as an
accent strip right below the tips shade) gives
this manicure a modern-art edge, says
Lippmann. Just stick to colors that are either
all warm- or all cool-toned. No mixing.
Base: CoverGirl Outlast Stay Brilliant Nail
Gloss in Snow Storm, $5.49, at drugstores
Tips: Dior Vernis in Metal Montaigne,
$29, dior.com
Accent: Givenchy Le Vernis Nail Lacquer in
Rose Evocation, $22, sephora.com
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4/ N EG AT I V E S PAC E
This type of nail art is “really big for
spring and summer,” says Soon. Of
course it is—it looks edgy and
effortless. Use a base coat to leave the
nails clear, “then kill it with a bright
green on the tips.”
Base: Revlon Multi Care Base + Top Coat,
$5.75, at drugstores
Tips: Burberry Nail Polish in Aqua Green,
$22, us.burberry.com
WH Online
Get your hands
on fresh ideas
for stunning fingertips
at WomensHealth
Mag.com/Nails.
3/ NEW CLASSIC
Replacing basic sheer pink with a gray-tinged
white base makes nails look magically cooler
and glossier. “Choose an elegant shade for
the tips, like the hues in a Matisse painting.
They’re vivid but not childish,” says Soon.
Base: Jinsoon Nail Lacquer in Kookie White,
$18, jinsoon.com
Tips: Deborah Lippmann Nail Lacquer in Blue
Orchid, $18, sephora.com
5/S H I N Y + M AT T E
Two finishes add dimension to monochrome
nails. “Dark colors show off the contrast best,”
says Soon. For the easiest interpretation, finish
the entire nail with a matte topcoat, then sweep a
glossy one just on tips.
Base: Sally Hansen Miracle Gel in Wine Stock,
$10, at drugstores, and Jinsoon Nail
Lacquer in Matte Maker, $18, jinsoon.com
Tips: Morgan Taylor Make It Last Top
Coat, $8.50, morgantaylorlacquer.com Q
4
IS A FRENCH PEDICURE
E V E R O KAY ?
MANICURE: JIN SOON CHOI FOR JINSOON/JED ROOT,
PROP ST YLING: SUMMER MOORE
H m m , d e f i n e o k ay. At b e s t , i t m a ke s
to e n a i l s a p p e a r l o n g e r ; a t wo r s t , yo u r to e s l o o k
l i ke f i n g e r s . “ I t ’ s a b i g n o . A h u g e o n e,”
s ay s S o o n , w ra c k i n g h e r b ra i n fo r a n exce p t i o n :
“ I f yo u re a l l y wa n t to , d raw a ve r y t h i n
l i n e i n w h i te a t t h e e d g e . M u c h
t h i n n e r t h a n a Fre n c h l i n e. S u p e r t h i n . L i ke,
n o t n o t i ce a b l e.” B o t to m l i n e : N o p e.
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